Testable composite systems for the reinforcement of metallic structures for containing fluids

Abstract

A composite system for reinforcing a section of a curved metallic structure configured to contain fluids comprises a fabric carrier configured to be saturated with a uniformly dispersed reactive precursor. The reactive precursor chemically configured to activate and harden after removal of the reactive precursor from a protective packaging. The reactive precursor includes a radiopaque substance within a range of about 3 percent to about 50 percent by weight of the reactive precursor. The fabric carrier is adapted to be applied in overlapping layers to a surface of a curved metallic structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A repair kit for the reinforcement of a section of a curved metallic structure for containing fluids, the repair kit comprising:
 a moisture impervious bag; and   a woven fabric carrier including a continuous reinforcing fiber, the woven fabric carrier being pre-impregnated with a uniformly dispersed polyurethane resin reactive precursor, the woven fabric carrier being sealed in the moisture impervious bag isolating the reactive precursor from premature chemical activation, the reactive precursor chemically configured to activate and harden after removal of the woven fabric carrier from the moisture-impervious bag;   wherein the reactive precursor includes a radiopaque substance within a range of about 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the reactive precursor, the reactive precursor uniformly dispersed within the woven fabric carrier, the radiopaque substance being suspended within the reactive precursor, the woven fabric carrier adapted to be applied to a curved metallic structure in overlapping layers of the fabric carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque substance particle size is less than two microns. 
     
     
         3 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric carrier is a continuous sheet stored on a roll. 
     
     
         4 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric carrier includes a combination of carbon fiber and fiberglass materials. 
     
     
         5 . A composite system for reinforcing a section of a curved metallic structure configured to contain fluids, the composite system comprising:
 a fabric carrier configured to be saturated with a uniformly dispersed reactive precursor, the reactive precursor chemically configured to activate and harden after removal of the reactive precursor from a protective packaging providing an inert interior storage environment;   wherein the reactive precursor includes a radiopaque substance within a range of about 3 percent to about 50 percent by weight of the reactive precursor, the saturated fabric carrier adapted to be applied in overlapping layers to a surface of a metallic structure after activation and before hardening of the reactive precursor such that at least a first layer of overlapping layers is allowed to bond to the surface of the metallic structure.   
     
     
         6 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric carrier is a woven fabric including continuous reinforcing fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive precursor includes a polyurethane resin and the protective packaging is air-tight, the fabric carrier being pre-saturated with the polyurethane resin. 
     
     
         8 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive precursor is configured to activate and harden after exposure to an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         9 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the radiopaque substance particle size is less than two microns. 
     
     
         10 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive precursor includes a hyperdispersant material to keep the radiopaque substances in suspension within the reactive precursor. 
     
     
         11 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive precursor includes an epoxy material, the epoxy material chemically configured to activate and harden after reaction with a curing agent, the fabric carrier being saturated with the epoxy material prior to being applied to the metallic structure. 
     
     
         12 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein fabric carrier includes a fiberglass material. 
     
     
         13 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric carrier includes a carbon fiber material. 
     
     
         14 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the radiopaque substance includes barium sulphate, other barium-based compounds, titanium, tungsten, lead, zirconium oxide, antimony, bismuth, tin,_uranium, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the metallic structure is a pipe and the fabric carrier saturated with the reactive precursor is adapted to be wrapped in layers around an outer surface of the pipe, the radiopaque substance allowing layering between individual layers of the wrapped fabric carrier to be visually observed from X-ray images generated when X-rays are applied from an X-ray source positioned to apply X-rays directed along a tangent to an outer circumference of the pipe, the radiopaque substance further configured to allow one or more anomalies to be identified from the generated X-ray images, the one or more anomalies including an air pocket, a foreign object, or combinations thereof, the one or more anomalies being located between the layers of the wrapped fabric carrier or being located between the fabric carrier and the surface of the metallic pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The composite system of  claim 15 , wherein the X-ray source has a peak operating voltage of within a range of about 70 kVp to about 400 kVp. 
     
     
         17 . The composite system of  claim 15 , wherein the X-ray source has a peak operating voltage of less than 125 kVp. 
     
     
         18 . The composite system of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are arranged in a uniaxial orientation, a biaxial orientation, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         19 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric carrier saturated with the fabric precursor is adapted to be applied in overlapping layers to an inner surface of the curved metallic structure. 
     
     
         20 . The composite system of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive precursor includes a radiopaque substance with a range of 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the reactive precursor.